Sources: BCS Leaders Settle On Playoff Format, Revenue Sharing

Sources said that BCS commissioners and the Presidential Oversight Committee have “settled on a rotation of six bowls for the semifinals of the upcoming college football playoff system.” The “highest-rated champion from the ‘Group of Five’ conferences – the Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Mid-American – will receive an automatic berth in one of the six access bowls.” That will "lock up seven of the 12 berths in the six access bowls" along with the Rose, Sugar and Orange. The other five berths will be “filled with at-large teams.”

The group has also “finalized the revenue distribution deal for the new playoff.” Sources also said that the oversight committee “will give the commissioners authority to finalize a media rights deal with ESPN, which will be worth about $475 million a year over 12 years” (ESPN.com, 11/12).